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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be pissed off with being offered a council FLAT instead of a HOUSE?

999 replies

OMFFG · 16/02/2012 10:46

We have 4 DCs, youngest 16 months and they think this is suitable!! The flat is 3 bedrooms and on the 2nd floor of a small tower block and has balconies which I would be pretty worried one of the DCs may fall out of.

This is my worst frigging nightmare. We have been 'homeless' for almost 2 years and the council have housed us in temporary accommodation (private rented) which we have to pay market value for (£875 per month) even though we did not choose it and it's a complete shit hole. We could not leave as we would lose our priority on the council bidding list. We lost our house when DH was made redundant and could not afford to pay £1200+ to privately rent.

Now after all this they have offered us a fucking flat. I am furious because every week until last week, there were only offering 3 bed houses but we would always be 3/4 on the list. Now that a flat was offered, less people have bid on it so we got to the top of the list. I did not even bid on it, the council did. Apparently they can bid on 'our behalf' as we are homeless and if we refuse this flat, we will be taken off the housing list. How the hell will we cope in a flat???

The rent is 'only' £380 a month but a house would only be £20 a month more.

AIBU to tell them to stuff it up their arses?

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 16/02/2012 11:30

But there must be far more needier people than someone who can already afford £875 themselves. I live in London, and there are 3 bedroom properties here for that amount of rent, so why on earth should the council provide a subsidised home to someone who is able to pay for their own home?

The DCs have a fucking trampoline that we will have to get rid of

Oh dear.... Hmm

Voidka · 16/02/2012 11:30

The choices you have are simple - take what you are being offered (which a lot of people would bite your hand off for) or sort yourself out.

Clytaemnestra · 16/02/2012 11:31

If she'd said it's in a dreadful area/sink estate/miles from schools then I'd be sympathetic, you don't have to take what you're given in all circumstances.

If the only problem is that it's a flat then I think she's being silly. The righteous indignation in the tone doesn't help, she sounds like she feels a flat is beneath her and it is an insult to offer it to her. Which is out of order.

"A 3 bedroom flat may or may not be suitable - it depends on gender of the children (it's maybe not reasonable to expect boy and girl to share, depending on age)."

How many permutations of gender could OP have which necessitate more than two bedrooms in the relatively short term? :) Especially if one is a toddler.

porcamiseria · 16/02/2012 11:31

usual, again. WE ARE IN A RECESSION
I have no issue with council tenants, but the complete lack of practicality around the fact that there are limitied funds, esp on MN, baffles me

and OP has a really shitty entitled tone that has not suprisingly rileD alot of people

why the fuck should she get a 3 bed house? I would love a 3 bed house with a garden, here is a fucking news flash- WE CANT AFFORD IT- get the fuck over it, I have

badtasteflump · 16/02/2012 11:31

Why will you have to get rid of the trampoline?

WorraLiberty · 16/02/2012 11:31

Oh yes beggers can't be choosers ,just about sums up the attitude to council tenants on this site

But it's the same for private renters and mortgagees

I couldn't afford to be choosy when I bought this house either

McTemp · 16/02/2012 11:32

OP - so you are currently paying £875 a month yourselves cos DH works, yes? And if you take this flat, you would be paying £380 a month yourselves, so would be £500 better off a month. Dear God what I'd for that. I would happily move out of my 2 bed flat for £1000 a month into a 3 bed flat for £380 a month!

Use the £500 a month savings, save it up for a year until you have £6,000. Then either get off council lists and rent privately for good, or stay in the flat for 5years, save £30,000 and buy a house. simple. I genuinely would LOVE to be in your position - honest.

sausagesandmarmelade · 16/02/2012 11:33

I can understand why you wanted a house and not a flat , her husband got made redundant give her a break fgs

Oh right....so we must all expect to have the same standard of living even if our circumstances change?

Groovee · 16/02/2012 11:33

The DCs have a fucking trampoline that we will have to get rid of. It's not fucking fair!!!!

You sound like the 3 year old I had a conversation with saying her mummy wouldn't let her have a trampoline or a swimming pool. I felt some sympathy when I realised she lived on the 4th floor of a block of flats.

Not every child has a trampoline. Take the flat and in 6 months attempt to exchange. If not ask your housing officer if there is a chance of a house!

EauDeLaPoisson · 16/02/2012 11:33

usualsuspect- if you read the thread about the person wanting to borrow money from their FIL to afford the 4 bed house they felt they 'needed' then you will realise people feel the same about people who want to buy a house also. We are not picking on poor ikkle council tennants so you may stick your accusing people of having an agenda the same place as the OP's inferior 3 bed flat ta.

BupcakesandCunting · 16/02/2012 11:33

"Oh yes beggers can't be choosers ,just about sums up the attitude to council tenants on this site"

Exactly. Hmm

muminthecity · 16/02/2012 11:34

MKF - I suppose you are right, it is a fair assumption in this case. I am touchy about this subject in general, it amazes me that so many people seem to think that because I live in a council flat, I must have all my rent paid for me.

LilacWaltz · 16/02/2012 11:34

Op I get it! It's the lottery of the bidding system tho

I was given top priority in November, previously lots of lovely houses in the area I wanted were coming available, as soon ad I was given priority, the nasty ones came up. Houses in unsuitable areas etc. sids law isn't it?

I was lucky. A good housing officer can help you

Agincourt · 16/02/2012 11:35

Can you not find a nicer house to rent privately? I pay the same on my rent and I live in a lovely house/area, it's just stuck a tad in the 1970's

Original poster
OMFFG · 16/02/2012 11:35

As we are 'homeless' we cannot refuse an offer of housing or we will be taken off the housing list and put into Band 4 (lowest band). The council can also bid on properties for us which we would never bid on, like this flat. Beggars can't be choosers huh!

DH started working again a few months after we became homeless and we are not entitled to HB. He does not earn a massive amount and no way enough to privately rent long term, we live hand to mouth as I cannot find a job at the moment. We stayed put to wait for a council property as we hoped when DC4 goes to school and we do not have childcare to pay (hopefully I will be working long before that!), we could save money to buy another house thereby freeing up the council property for someone else.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 16/02/2012 11:35

Put the trampoline right outside the balcony window...

problem solved. Grin

CardyMow · 16/02/2012 11:35

Usual - 'Oh yes beggers can't be choosers ,just about sums up the attitude to council tenants on this site'. I AM A HOUSING ASSOCIATION TENANT, in so-called 'temporary' accommodation. And have been for 7 years. Waiting for a bigger property.

I still think the OP's attitude is bollocks.

So, it's SHIT that you got a flat when others got a house. But it's the luck of the draw. If you had reached the top of the list last week, then someone ELSE with dc would have been given the flat. So, you shit out. That's the real world, I'm afraid.

OK, you will have to get rid of their trampoline - you can sell it and buy them beter bikes so they can ride to the park, surely? Again, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

Lueji · 16/02/2012 11:35

Yes, you are lucky.
In the USA for example, you might ended up living in a caravan or something.

Without the council you would not even get the shithole you are living in now.

Obviously not reason to be overjoyed but no reason to spit on the face of what is helping you.

badtasteflump · 16/02/2012 11:35

And PS trampolines are shit anyway - save your DC a few broken legs and get rid anyway.

lesley33 · 16/02/2012 11:35

OP - If this is real, you need to ask politely whether you can turn it down and wait for another offer, or whether this will be the only offer you get. Different councils/HA's have different rules.

WorraLiberty · 16/02/2012 11:36

The OP is not a 'begger' but if she needs social housing then she can't be too choosy either.

It's a fact of life and one we often have to suck up until our circumstances change.

Northernlurker · 16/02/2012 11:36

Op - get a grip and make a list of the positives here:

The rent - it is cheap and you can either save the 500 or use it to improve your quality of life - that will pay for a few family trips out every month won't it?

The size - 3 beds is big enough for 4 young children and generally three bed flats have decent living space

The security - much more secure than private rents or struggling to buy when you have young children making it hard for you to work and dh's job could be uncertain.

This isn't how you thought your life was going to be but it is how your life is so it's time to start making the ebst of it. Very few people on the site are going to sit and pat you on the back for being offered an adequate size home you can afford.

Oh and the balconys - don't be daft. There are loads of ways to make them secure and suitable.

takeonboard · 16/02/2012 11:36

my first ever Biscuit You really do take the biscuit!
So ungrateful, go ahead - tell them to stuff it and stand on your own two feet.... see what you can afford on your own.

newmannoggsforheadteacher · 16/02/2012 11:36

£380 a month? Blimey. Even when we were 'in council' renting a 2 bed flat we were paying more than that and that was 8 years ago. I honestly didn't realise they were still that cheap.

porcamiseria · 16/02/2012 11:37

this has to be a wind up, look how enraged we all are! noone can be this entitled surely!!!!!!

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